Bug Out Bag List: Essentials You Need In An Emergency

A bug-out bag is a kit that contains gear to survive for at least 72 hours in an emergency situation. Also known as a “Get Out of Dodge” bag; these should be packed and ready to go at all times so that you can grab it on your way out the door at the drop of a hat.

The idea is that you have everything you need to stay alive for 3 days containing at least the basics: clothes, food, water, shelter, as well as a first aid kit and a survival tool – all stored in one convenient location for quick access in case of an emergency evacuation. This can be from anything like a natural disaster such as hurricanes or tornadoes, to man-made disasters to an alien invasion.

While everyone may have their own idea of what should be in this list, it can vary depending on where you live, your environment, and what you are planning for. Nonetheless, there are a few essentials that you should be sure not to leave home without. In this blog post we will go over some essential things to include in your bug-out bag.

What to Put in Your Survival Bug Out Bag B.O.B & Why You Need one

One thing about emergencies is the fact that they come without an invitation and this is why one should always be prepared just in case of an unlikely scenerio. Making a bug out bag list is a good first step for making yourself ready for any emergency. 

A bug out bag list is a list of all the survival items you would need to survive when SHTF.  This list is not just a survival kit which is more for medical emergencies, a bug out bag list includes gear specifically used so that you can get from point A to point B and wait out any emergency situation such as natural disasters, war, emergency relocation, etc. 

The basic three elements needed for survival are food, water, and shelter.

Depending on where you are and in what circumstances you are facing will dictate what would be most practical. Other categories including food, water and shelter, that are important are things like having a way to light a fire, having a light source, having some way to navigate and a form of weapon for self-defense.

Deciding what goes in your bug out bag is not always so straightforward and requires some planning. However, having these basic categories in mind will go a long way in getting the essentials right.

How to Pack your Bug out Bag? 

The first thing you’ll want to do is divide items into weights. Place all the heavy ones in one place, light and mid-weight items in another. This will make packing much more efficient – especially if you have an external frame pack. When it comes time for loading up your bag with those weight groups, keep heavier things near the spine and lower down near your hips so the bad isn’t top-heavy.

The idea here is to make the weight evenly distributed, closer to your spine that will allow you to move easier when you are on the move. All of the extra pockets and webbing should be used for lighter items. If you have some long heavy dangly pieces hanging out its pretty easy to feel unbalanced. If you set off on a jog these pieces of equipment often start to swing and can easily get caught which can through you off-balance.

Because you are going to be on the run, you are going to want a bag that is light, ideally something that is less than 25% of your body weight fully packed. Anything more and you will not be as light on your feet. You are not looking for an (INCH bag) or packing for an extended long-term survival scenario, but are primarily looking to prep for immediate emergencies as most situations change within 72 hours making those three days the most critical in any survival situation.

What is a Bug-out-Bag?

Bug out Bags (or BOBs for short) aren’t really as crazy as it all sounds. You really don’t need to be a conspiracy theorist or a member of some underground guerilla movement to understand the importance of being prepared in times of emergency.

Emergency prep comes in many forms. It’s about risk mitigation. Not that you hope anything will happen, but you plan for the what-ifs, so that if IT does happen you will have gone through the physical and psychological motions of preparing in advance so that you will survive IF such an event takes place.

When disaster strikes, you will not have time to think. This is where training comes in, the body responds on instinct when faced with life or death scenarios which can come in the form of a fight, flight or freeze response. There is no single best response to cover all situations. Sometimes the best chance of survival is to fight your way through, however, in environments that are outside your control, the best thing you can do is take flight to someplace safe.

One of the worst things you can do in an emergency scenerio is freeze and do nothing.

Aside from being attacked by a bear, there are very few situations where freezing is a good idea. Freezing is often the result of being confronted with an experience so overwhelming, so unexpected that your brain is unable to respond to the situation that presents itself.

Prepping is about preparing yourself so that whatever may happen you have the necessary skills and gear to survive for whatever may come.

Why do I Need a Bug-out-Bag?

A bug-out bag is for those what-if scenarios.

Bugging out’ refers to an individual’s decision to abandon home in response to an unexpected emergency situation. There usually is the option to stay put and bug in at home, which is the first option that should be looked at. Staying put is often advisable in the face of civil unrest or riots, as you are likely to be more secure staying indoors rather than taking flight.

Bugging out is preferable in situations such as:

• immenent natural disasters (fire, tornado, flood etc…)
• immediate man-made disasters (power plant meltdown, war, etc…)

Other situations could be something like when your reserves or stockpile have run low, when certain social systems break down (like transportation), or if there is any type of local threat that threatens your family and house.

Preparation is key in these scenarios – it’s what helps you make it out alive.

When to use a Bug Out Bag?

A bug-out bag is used in the event of a voluntary or mandatory evacuation. Voluntarily evacuation is really only needed in extreme emergencies – and is usually a last resort. Bugging out should only be considered when there is a greater danger in staying put than there is in fleeing.

Most often than not you will be safer in your home than. In those times where staying inside is not an option, in case of a fire or chemical leak, then knowing where your local evacuation zone or town meeting point will likely be your first point of call.

What Can I Find in a Bug Out Bag?

Although people can put just about anything in these bags they are more for essential goods. Think food, water, shelter and survival as we talked about before.

This can come in the form of:

1. food supplies like MREs, energy bars, meal replacements;
2. water supplies such as chlorine tablets or water filters;
3. shelter materials like tarps or tents;
4. first aid kits containing medications and bandages
5. self-defense items like a hatchet, knife or handgun.

We will go into each section more in the next section.

Bug Out Bag the Essentials: What You Should Always Carry with You

Essentials for Living – Food and Water

This is the most important part of your bug-out bag checklist because it will keep you alive. Period. Whatever, you put in the bag if it doesn’t include food and water you are not going to last very long. That means having enough food and water for 72 hours.

When we say food we are talking about:

1. MREs
2. Protein bars
3. Ready to Eat Meals

And for water purification, we are talking about

1. Iodine tablets
2. Chlorine tablets
3. Water purifier
4. UV water wand
5. Survival straw

This will allow you to pretty much take any water that you find and turn it into drinking water quickly without having to carry large amounts with you.

Essentials for Warmth – Shelter and Fire

Along with food and water, the next couple things that are essential are shelter and fire. Now shelter can mean a number of different things that will again depend upon where you are bugging out to. If you are in the jungle you likely won’t need a down jacket.

Here are a few ideas for shelter:

1. Tarp
2. Tent
3. Sleeping Bag

Having a means of warmth if you are bugging out in colder environments can mean the difference between life and death if you are exposed to the elements.

For a heat source you are going to want something like a:

1. Firestarter
2. Flint and steel
3. Lighter
4. Ferro rod

And for warm clothing:

1. Jacket
2. Blackets
3. Hats
4. Scarfs

Essentials for Survival – Navigation and Self Defense

You are going to want a few things with you that you can use for self-defense whether that is from wild animals or other humans.

A few of the most common weapons you can use for self-defense:

1. Knife
2. Hatchet
3. Handgun

Knowing where you are, and where you are headed is pretty important when you are escaping somewhere fast. Having at least one of these 3 would be adviseable:

1. GPS
2. Map
3. Compass